Volunteer English teachers needed in France

Dunkirk Adult Learning Centre is known in the camp as a lively and safe place to learn. It’s a great place to volunteer as an English teacher. The Centre provides a programme of learning relevant to refugees in the camp aimed at creating understanding and unity. There are currently daily French and English classes, a library, and literacy classes are in development.
If you have a work ethic that is professional and compassionate and you can commit a month or more then please get in touch for further information and a chat.

Dunkirk Refugee Camp is home to around 1,500 refugees, mainly of Kurdish origin, where they live whilst waiting to seek asylum in France or the UK. The Adult Learning Centre aims to provide learning in a way that promotes understanding and unity. Language teaching is in small groups sitting in circles on the floor. We are developing a library which is currently in a tent next to the centre though we have few relevant books so far.

English and French Teachers

We need volunteers to teach English and French from basic to advanced level. Expect to spend as much time on outreach as teaching because our priority is to be inclusive of refugees who find it less easy to study.

A TEFL qualification with some experience or some teaching/training experience is required, along with the ability to be adaptable and responsive in a refugee camp environment. Good communication skills, compassion and resilience are essential.

Outreach and Development Workers

We need volunteers to develop the Adult Learning Centre through facilitation of new programmes of work, recruiting and training refugee volunteers and helping with the day to day running of the centre. Outreach work is essential to help the less confident and more vulnerable people to engage with learning.

Experience of Community Development and Outreach work is required. Good facilitation and communication skills are necessary along with the ability to be well organised and cope in a challenging environment.

IS THIS FOR ME?

Here are some things that will help both you and Dunkirk Adult Learning Centre decide if volunteering here would suit you:

– Provide a professional reference to Dunkirk Adult LearningIt’s fair to say that the conditions are poor (self-funding is needed) but the students are very motivated and refugee camp food is very good. It is possible to live quite cheaply for a few months in Dunkirk. We need people to commit for a minimum of one month.If you can’t commit to one of the above roles but are interested to get involved with the Adult Learning Centre please get in touch – there are many other ways to help.

About Bren Brennan

Bren initially trained here at SGI and then joined the staff in 2005. Since 2006, he has taught abroad in Budapest, Berlin and now at Mondragon University in Spain. He returns to teach at SGI London every summer and completed the SGI Trinity DipTESOL in 2011. He also regularly writes posts for students here.